That this delicacy is one of the main protagonists of Portuguese sweets many already know. But the history of the pastel de nata, how it became part of the Portuguese cultural identity, its genesis and the genius behind the recipe, are less well known. Although unclear, it is known that the pastel de nata has a monastic origin, linked to the Jerónimos Monastery. It is believed that in a time of need, particularly difficult due to the liberal revolution, the monks of the famous monastery resorted to this delicacy to try to make money and survive. So, at that time of urgency, they started selling it in an establishment, right there in Belém, in the immediate vicinity of the Jerónimos Monastery. It was precisely the location of this sales post that gave it its name, which has become more common today. The pastel de Belém. Its popularization and diffusion was driven not only by the flow of tourists who, attracted by the tower of Belém and the monastery of Jerónimos itself, ended up trying it and making it known, but also by the movement of boats that, at the time, connected that location to Lisbon. The history of the Pastel de Nata is the result of adaptation and reproduction of the pastel de Belém. What we know as pastel de nata is no more than the result of an attempt to reproduce the pastel de Belém. This pastel, whose secret is kept under lock and key, can only be found in that same place, in Belém. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the alternatives that populate cafes and supermarkets in Portugal and all over the world. Moreover, today we can find many versions of pasteis de nata, many variations, the result of the creative spirit of those who love pasteis de nata, some better achieved than others...In the end, the history of the pastel de nata resembles an empire built on the power of the senses.